Syringe



L. M. ALLEN 'Nov. 8, 1955 SYRINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1952 LESTER M. ALLEN INVENTOR.

ATT'Y L. M. ALLEN Nov. 8, 1955 SYRINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1952 INVENTOR. LESTEEMALLEN ATTORNEYS W i v N 1 v United States Patent ()1 SYRINGE Lester M. Allen, Portland, Oreg. Application February 11, 1952, Serial No. 271,051

3 Claims. (Cl. 128-231) The present invention relates to syringes and more particularly to an improved syringe structure of the handsupported, pressure storage type.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my abandoned application Serial No. 163,395, filed May 22, 1950, for improvements in Expansion Bulb Syringe.

Syringes in general use today are of two types, both of which possess inherent disadvantages which the present invention is designed to overcome. Probably the most generally used syringe is the type having an open bag liquid reservoir to one end of which the hose of the syringe is connected, the other end being open to atmosphere. A hook or some similar attaching means must be provided on a wall to which the bag may be secured in an elevated position. Such a hook is frequently a disfiguring appurtenance to the architecture of the room, and in most cases is inconveniently located.

The syringes of the open-bag type are also generally difficult to fill in the usual bathroom washbowl because of the configuration of the bowl, and it is a rare occasion that the bag is filled Without wetting the exterior surface thereof, an obviously undesirable condition. After the bag is filled it must be maneuvered carefully to prevent its contents from spilling out the open top, and the contents of the bag cannot be agitated to dissolve or mix medicaments added to the water in the bag. Any maneuvering whatsoever is hindered, of course, by the presence of the extremely long tube that is necessary with a syringe of this type in order to permit elevation of the bag.

The physical dimensions of the open type bags must be relatively large to accommodate a suflicient volume of Water; thus, they are diflicult to store neatly, a problem which is further complicated by the long tube and the fact that the bag is not closed so that any water in the interior of the bag might leak out if it is not dried before it is stored.

The second type of syringe in general use today is the type wherein the nozzle is directly coupled to a selfexpanding type of bulb. Syringes of this type are unsatisfactory since the liquid capacity of the bulb having dimensions convenient for it to be handled is inadequate. Furthermore, they are inconvenient to use and are only satisfactory when extreme compactness is desired. Even this last feature is negatived in part by the fact that the bulb cannot be collapsed for storage.

It is a primary object of the present invention, then, to provide a new and improved syringe that may be conveniently and easily manipulated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a syringe that is compact and easily handled and stored.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a syringe having means whereby the fluid flow through the nozzle may be positively and surely controlled by the operator.

A further object is to provide a new and improved syringe that may be economically manufactured.

In accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the 2,722,933 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 invention, I have provided a hand-supported type syringe including a thin-walled sac of flexible material having but a single opening. The sac is coupled to a nozzle through a relatively short tube and is adapted to be held in one hand immediately in front of the user while the nozzle is adjusted into operative position by the other hand. Preferably the sac is of normally small volume and formed of an elastic material whereby when the sac is attached to a source of fluid under pressure it expands to hold the desired volume and which fluid may be subsequently expelled by the elastic contraction of the sac and compression thereof by the user. I have also provided an adapter element designed to be alternatively connected to a water faucet spout to fill the sac and to a syringe nozzle. Positive control of the flow of fluid through the tube is provided by a manually controlled valve arranged cooperatively thereon.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily ascertained from inspection of the following specification taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, while the features of novelty will be more distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, of a syringe made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view, in side elevation, of the valve means for regulating the flow of fluid through the tube of my device;

Fig. 3 is a slightly reduced elevation of the syringe sac, partly in section, and shown attached to a water supply;

Figs. 4 and 5 show a side view and a top plan view, respectively, of a coupling for uniting one end of the tube with the syringe sac;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a modification of the syringe made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail demonstrating a manner of utilizing a feature of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the adapter element;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view of the adapter element and shown attached to a water spout; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a further modification of a syringe in accordance with my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 5 inclusive, reference numeral 1 indicates a sac formed of flexible, fluid impervious material throughout its extent, and having a restricted neck portion defining the single opening to the sac. Preferably the sac is made of a resilient material such as rubber which will expand during the filling to increase the effective volume thereof. The sac is formed at its open end with a rubber flange 2 adapted for frictional engagement with a coupling in the form of a collar 3 flanged as at 4 and 5. A tube 6 is enlarged at one of its ends and also flanged as at '7 for frictional engagement with the collar 3 whereby a leakproof connection is established between the sac and the tube 6. The tube is formed at its opposite end into an enlarged cylindrical portion 8 whose upper end is formed with a restricted resilient collar portion 9 adapted for engagement with a nozzle 19 of any conventional length or shape.

Intermediate the ends of the tube 6 I have provided a manually controlled valve means cooperatively arranged with the tube for positively controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. The valve 22 comprises a clamp consisting of spring metal of greater width than that of the tube 6 when compressed and having one leg portion 11 folded back on itself to provide a companion leg portion 12 whose lowermost end is turned at right angles to itself as at 13 and formed with a ridge 14 to provide a limit stop for the lowermost end of the leg portion 1.1. Opposing-transverse indentations 14A are formed in the leg portions for completely comprising the tube as at 15 to prevent the flow of fluid through the tube, but when the leg 11 disengages from the limit stop 14 and is allowed to move into the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, fluid may flow freely from the sac through the tube 6 and through nozzle 10. The valve means thus provided enables the operator to positively and conveniently control the flow of fluid through the tube and permit it to pass therethrough only when it is expressly desired that it do so.

To fill the sac 1, it may be attached directly to, or held under, the water faucet or other source of supply as shown in Fig. 3, and a medicament in liquid, powder or tablet form as indicated at 16 may be deposited within the sac.

Figs. 6 through 10 inclusive show further modifications of my invention. Shown in Fig. 6 is a syringe including an elongate distensible sac formed of limp, elastic material, the sac having one pair of opposite side walls 26 reentrantly disposed, the container of this form being convenient inasmuch as it folds flat for storage. The length of the sac 25 is preferably several times its width so that the sac may be comfortably held in the hand by the user. Similar to the modification previously described, the sac 25 is formed with a restricted neck portion in which is fitted a coupling collar 3 which may be relatively elongated to provide means for more securely holding the sac in the hand during the addition of medicaments as illustrated in Fig. 7, and also when the tube 6 is placed over the coupling. Preferably the collar 3 is of relatively large diameter, that is of a diameter several times that of. the tube 6, to facilitate the addition of medicaments or liquids to the sac through the coupling. If the sac is sufficiently elastic it may be filled directly through the collar 3, the weight of the water added distending the walls thereof and enabling it to receive a relatively large volume of water. However, it is preferred that the sac be of a heavier material such that liquid must be introduced under pressure to distend the walls to the desired volume. With heavier walls the life of the sac is increased and the heavier walls exert a greater force on the liquid in the sac and thus will expel it with greater force at the desired time. The tube 6 of the present modification is of identical construction with that of the embodiment pictured in Fig. 1 and described previously and may be provided with a valve 22 similar to that previously described.

The enlarged end portion 8 of the tube 6 may serve for securely attaching that end of the tube to a water faucet or other source of supply so that the water may be supplied under pressure to the sac to expand it to its full limit of capacity, at which time the control valve 22 is closed. However, it is somewhat ditficult to engage the hose in a fluid-tight relation with a water faucet, and for that reason I have provided an adapter element 27 which may be coupled to the end portion 8 of the tube for more ready attachment of the syringe in a fluid-tight relation to the spout of the water faucet and to the syringe nozzle. The adapter element 27 comprises a cup 28 of relatively rigid, transparent material having a relatively wide mouth defined by a tubular wall curving inwardly at its opposite end to define a bottom and a throat 29 having a passage 36 therethrough. The throat 29 is adapted to be coupled to the end portion 8 of the tube, with the tube in communication with the interior of the cup. Disposed over the mouth of the cup is a cap 31 of a resilient material, for example, rubber, including-an end wall portion 32 and a tubular side wall portion 33 having a normal inner diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of said cup and overlapping the cup side wall. Cooperative means are provided onthe cap 31 and the cup 28to releasably secure them together in fluid-tight engagement. Since the cap- 31 is of a'resil ient material, it may be stretched to receive the mouth of the cup 28 within the side wall portion 33, the wall 33 of the cap snugly engaging the cup in a fluid-tight relation. An inwardly projecting flange or lip 34 is formed at one end of the side wall portion 33 and which engages cooperatively a flange 35 projecting outwardly from the periphery of the cup near the edge of the mouth. The end wall portion 32 of the cup is formed integral with the end of the side wall portion 33 opposite the flanged end and is directed longitudinally inwardly of the side wall portion to form a reentrant surface, as may be most clearly seen in Fig. 8. A centrally located opening 36 is formed in the end wall portion, in which may be en- 1 gaged by very simple manipulation the nozzle 10 as shown in Fig. 6, or the spout of a water faucet as shown in Fig. 9, for filling the sac without getting the exterior wet.

Instead of adding medicaments directly to the sac after uncoupling the tube 6 from the collar 3, the user may find it more convenient to place the medicaments in the cup 28 of the adapter element 27 before the adapterelement is coupled to a water spout for filling the sac. The construction of the cap 31 isof assistance in this regard, since the frusto-conical surface of the end portion 32 acts as a funnel to direct the medicaments into the cup 28.

The'water rushing through the cup when the sac is'fillcd vigorously agitates the medicaments, of course, aiding in their dissolution. In the preferred form of the invention the cup is made of a transparent material so that the user of the syringe may ascertain if the medicaments have all been washed down into the sac. However, the cup may be made of a translucent or an opaque material. The two=piece construction of the adapter element 27 is to be preferred since it permits of forming the cup of transparent material for the reasons above given, and also because the two-piece construction can be more economically manufactured than can a one-piece element molded, say, of rubber.

In Fig. 10 a further modification of the invention is shown wherein the adapter element is included in a syringe having a sac 1 and hose 6 made in a unitary piece. The unitary construction is not to be preferred, however,inasmuch as it is difficult to fabricate and it is more economical to manufacture the sac and the tube in separate entities and join them through a coupling link 3 such as the applicant provides in the modfication of Figs. 1 and 6.

In any of the illustrated forms of my invention the tube 6 may be relatively short, say from eight to fourteen inches, and at the most no longer than about twenty-four inches. Such a length is sufficient to enable the user to adjust the nozzle with one hand while holding the sac in the other hand at a convenient point in front of the body, for example, with the forearm resting on a thigh. With a'tube length of only about twelve inches the tube will extend in a substantially direct path between the sac and nozzle in such a position, obviously providing a syringe that is neat and easily handled and stored. Such a short tube is made possible in the present invention bythe enclosed sac I have provided which eliminates the necessity of raising the liquid container to expel the water and by the valve enabling the positive control of the water flow through the tube.

A syringe made in accordance with the present invention is conveniently stored since its components are compact, occupying relatively little space. Storage is also facilitated by the fact that the syringe may be put'away immediately after use with no effort required to dry the interior of the sac because there-is no danger of any remaining liquid escaping therefrom with valve 22 closed.

Having illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A hand supported type liquid douching syringe comprising a thin walled sac of limp, elastic material, said sac being elongate and having a length several times its width such that said sac may be comfortably held in the hand during usage of the syringe, said sac being of fluid impervious material throughout its entire extent save for a single filling and discharge opening in one end thereof, a tubular coupling element having one end arranged within said opening and engaged in a sealing relation by the edges of said opening, a flexible tube of a length of about eight to twenty four inches having one end snugly fitted over the other end of said coupling element, a syringe nozzle releasably attached to the other end of said tube, and a manually operated valve on said tube for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, said coupling element being rigid so as to maintain its tubular shape and having an internal diameter of several times that of said tube whereby to facilitate the addition of liquids and medicaments to said sac therethrough after first temporarily disconnecting said tube from said coupling element, the elasticity of said sac material permitting said sac, when suspended, to expand by the weight of liquid added thereto whereby the eflective volume of the sac is increased.

2. In a hand supported type liquid douching syringe, in combination, a thin walled sac of limp, elastic, fluid impervious material throughout, said sac being elongate and having a length several times its width so that the sac may be comfortably held in one hand by the user thereof, said sac having a single opening and at one end thereof, a tubular collar mounted within said opening engaged at one end by the edges of said opening in sealing relation, a flexible tube connected at one end thereof to said collar in communication with the interior of said sac, an adapter element comprising a cup of relatively rigid material having a relatively wide mouth defined by a side wall curving inwardly to define a throat portion connected to the other end of said tube and a cap releasably disposed over the mouth of said cup, said cup being formed of resilient, rubberlike material and having a tubular side wall portion resiliently engaging the side wall of said cup in sealing relation and an end wall portion disposed over the mouth of said cup, said cap and cup having cooperating flanges on the inner and outer surfaces thereof, respectively, whereby said cap is restrained from axial separative movement in respect to said cup, said cap end wall portion having an opening through the center thereof and being directed longitudinally inwardly of said cap side wall portion to form a funnel-like re-entrant surface facilitating the addition of medicaments to said cup, said opening being adapted to receive a water faucet spout in fluid tight engagement whereby said sac may be filled with water under pressure thus to distend the sac elastically beyond its undistended volume, said cap opening being adapted alternatively to receive a syringe nozzle, and a manually controlled valve on .said tube for controlling the fiow of fluid therethrough.

3. A liquid douching syringe comprising a sac of elastic material whereby the sac may be distended to increase the effective volume thereof when filled with water under pressure, a tube connected to said sac for conducting liquid to and from the same, and an adapter element for alternatively connecting said tube to a syringe nozzle and a water faucet spout including a cup comprising a relatively rigid tubular wall defining a relatively wide mouth at one end thereof and converging inwardly towards its opposite end to define a throat portion fitted within the end of said tube in fluid tight engagement therewith, said adapter element comprising a cap releasably disposed over the mouth of said cup, said cap being formed of a resilient, rubberlike material and having a tubular side wall portion extending in overlapping, fluid tight engagement with the side of said cup and an end wall portion extending over the mouth of said cup, said cap and cup having cooperating flanges on the inner and outer surfaces thereof, respectively, whereby said cap is restrained from axial, separative movement in respect to said cup, said end wall being directed longitudinally inwardly of said cap side wall portion to form a funnel-like re-entrant surface whereby to facilitate the addition of medicaments to said cup, said opening being adapted to receive a water faucet spout in fluid tight engagement whereby said sac may be filled with water under pressure, valve means operatively connected with said tube for closing the same after said sac has been filled with water under pressure to retain the water therein, said opening being further adapted to receive a syringe nozzle in fluid tight engagement, opening of said valve permitting water to be expelled through said tube and syringe nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 177,632 Gassin et a1 May 23, 1876 324,429 Suydam Aug. 18, 1885 344,016 Tatum June 22, 1886 350,105 Bennett Oct. 5, 1886 2,587,784 Story 'Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 246,973 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1926 

